FEDERAL POLITICS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 14277, 18 August 1910, Page 5

FEDERAL POLITICS.

LAND TAX BILL. IVess Asfociution-By Telegraph-Copyright MELBOURNE, August 17. Mr Fisher, in moving; the second reading of the Land Tax AssessmentBill, said it was not a. taxing measure, hut would give power to collect the tax. The principle of the Bill had heen affirmed by every State in the Commonwealth hut one, and in New Zealand. It would help to cheek the tendency to increase the popidation of towns as against the country. He showed that New Zealand had a population of 9.75 per square mile, to the Commonwealth's 1.47. Wellington contained 7.67 per centum of the total population, while Sydney contained 37.2 and Melbourne 43.2. In Australia during recent years there had been an increase in the number of large estates, and in New Zealand there had been a decrease to the extent of 4 per centum. This apparently was attributable to the influence of the unimproved land tax. He added that he could give extracts to show that the imposition of a land tax in New Zealand had improved the conditions of the people. The Government anticipated getting about £1,000,000 from the tax during the present, financial year, but this would be more than swallowed up in defence. The object was to raise revenue to carry on the great services of the Commonwealth. Absentees would be penalised to the extent of a penny, and they would hare no exemption. The debate was adjourned. THE CABLE SUBSIDY. The conditions of the proposed cable subsidy include the transmission of at least 6000 words weekly from Europe or America by the Pacific cable, unlesit -breaks down, when the transmission may be made by some other route. The proprietor of any newspaper in the Commonwealth is entitled to become a subscriber to the Association, rece.ving news on payment of a fixed rate of subscription. He is not ii:ililo to any penalty or disability for publishing cable matter received through other sources than the Association. The Association must transmit to and supply its subscribers with any information on matters of Australian interest supplied in London by the High Commissioner. The Association is to be entitled to charge the Commonwealth Government press rates in respct to matter so transmitted. The rates to subscribers are fixed at a maximum of £IOOO annually for the metropolitan papers of Sydney and Melbourne, £750 for Adelaide and Brisbane, £SOO for Perth, £3OO for Hobart, £2OO for newspapers in the chief provincial cities, and £SO in minor cities and towns. These charges are additional to the cost of, transmission on land lines. THE DEFENCE ACT. In the Senate, the Defence Act Amendment Act was read a first time. It provides that all male British subjects who have resided in the Commonwealth for six months shall serve, between 12 and 14 in the junior cadets, 14 and 18 senior cadets, 18 and 25 the citizen forces. Men between 25 and 26 are required to register or attend monthly parades. The GovernorGeneral may declare exempt those persons whose religions forbid them to bear arms. The following persons are exempt in time of war, medically unfit, members and officers of parliaments, judges, magistrates, lighthouse keepers, medical men, police or prison employees, persons not substantially of European decent, any occupation specified by regulation or proclamation. The duration of training in each year shall be Cadets 120 hours, senior cadet* four days: drills, twentytwo half day, twenty-four night; citizen forces, sixteen day drills or their equivalent, with not fewer than eight days in camps: continuous training in the naval artillery and engineers; in the military forces the training will twenty-five whole day, seventeen in camps. Sparsely populated districts may be exempt by proclamation. It is proposed to empower the GovernorGeneral to establish horse depots and farms stations for breeding horses. A deputation of Seventh Day Adventists asked the Minister for an exemption on Saturdays. He replied that it was a difficult question, but he would give it consideration.